IOWA CUBS HOME OPENER

DOWN ON THE FARM – The 2017 @IowaCubs home opener is today. Led by 22-year-old infielder Ian Happ, the I-Cubs will start the season with eight @Cubs top prospects, as rated by Baseball America. Included in this collection are OF Mark Zagunis, INF Jeimer Candelario, LHP Rob Zastryzny, RHP Pierce Johnson, INF Chesny Young, C Victor Caratini and LHP Jack Leathersich. RHP Alec Mills was also recognized as the Royals’ No. 22 prospect prior to a February trade to the Cubs.

THE TOP 5

Ian Happ – Earning his first invite to spring training this season, Happ crushed the Cactus League, hitting .383 (23-for-60) with five home runs and a league-leading 21 RBI. He split 2016 between Advanced-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee, batting a combined .279 with 15 home runs. He is making his first appearance at the Triple-A level with Iowa.

Rob Zastryzny – Went from Double-A, through Iowa, to making his major league debut and winding up with an NLCS roster spot over the course of the year. He finished the season with a 1.13 ERA (2ER/16.0IP) through his first eight big league games.

Jeimer Candelario was promoted from Double-A Tennessee to Iowa in June of 2016 and hit .333 with 54 RBI through 76 games while also making his major league debut in July.

Both infielder Chesny Young and catcher Victor Caratini make their Iowa Cubs debuts in 2017 after being teammates in Tennessee last season for the AA Smokies. Caratini caught 26 percent (26/74) potential base stealers from behind the plate and finished fifth in the Southern League with a .291 batting average in 2016. Young led the league with a .376 on-base percentage, while finishing second with a .303 batting average.

ENJOY THE #CUBBYCHUBBY SONG BELOW AND BE SURE TO SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS.